Lens-holder for headlights



' E. I. HOWARD, DECD.

E. R. HOWARD, zxscumx; A. THOMPSON, EXECUTUR OF E. R. HOWARD, uzc'o.

LENS HOLDER FOR HEADLIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1919.

1,344,694, 1 Patented June 29,1920.

mg the lens from turning.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELVERTON 1. HOWARD, or wns'rrrnm NEW YonK; ELSIE R. HOWARD nxnoormx or SAID ELVERTON .r. HOWARD, nLnXANDER 'rn omrsonunxno'urron 0F SAID ELSIE R. non/ nn, nncnasnn; SAID ALEXANDER THOMPSON, EXECUTOR, ASSIGNOR To rnnvrorirrn coiaraniz; nni'an iroms, INDIANA. I

LENS-HOLDER 'nnsnmen'rs.

' Application filed J'urykii To all 7.072077% it may concern:

' Be it lGlOWll;tl1at I,ELVERTON I. How- ARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at \Vestiield, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lens- Holders for Headlights, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in headlights for vehicles; and the improvement consists in providingmeans for hold- Some of the best improved light controlling lenses are of the refracting type wherein the glass is cast in prismatic forms so as to throw the light downward or diffuse the same so as to protect the eyes of the passerby or bystander. In order that said prisms or other formations of the glass shall have the desired effect, the glass lens must be held inv one position so that it cannot rotate or turn sidewise and thereby throw the light-to one side or the other according as the lens is turned. In order to prevent such-movement or turning, the outer edge portion of the lens is provided with an opening, preferably dovetail shaped, into which a resilient holding means is inserted preferably extending beyond the surface of the lens at each side thereof so that a plurality of these resilient holding points under pressure between the lamp rim and the packing for the lens hold said lens firmly in position in such a resilient manner that the lens is safely retained and at the same time cannot turn or work loose by the continual. jogging in driving the car over rough roads; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Inthe drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the front of the headlight with a refracting lens held at a plurality of points, preferably three, the rim portion being broken away to show the preferred form of holding means. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through said holding point showing the rim and a portion of the lens of the reflector and the resilient holding means for said lamp. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the top portion of the lens showing the dovetail shaped opening in the edge portion thereof with the dovetail shaped block at one side Specification of Letters P-atent. Patented Serial m. 212,254..

The lens 10 is mounted by simply placing signed.

J l ne 29, 1920.

of said top portion of the lensready to be inserted. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of said edge or run portion of the lens alongside the resilient block showing the compressible nature of'said blockand the manner in which it bulges beyond the front and rear faces of the lens rim to be compressed between the retaining rim ofthe headlight and the packing for said lens. Fig. 5 is a s1m1lar view of a top portion of the lens showing a modification consisting of a round hole and a round block for compressing into said hole.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates the lens which is preferably cast in glass with the prismatic or other diffusing means or formations therein, and an edge or rim 11 extending around the same.

An opening 12 is provided in the rim 11 which is preferably dovetail shaped to re- 75 (-eive therein the dovetail shaped resilient block 13. The block 13 is preferably made of rubber and larger than the opening 12 so as to be compressed into the same and bulge beyond each side, not only that it may not slip from the opening 11,but also that it may be compressed between the metal rim 1 1 of the headlight and the packing 15 against which the rim 11 of the lens 10 is held by the metal rim 1 1.

The blocks 13 are provided at a plurality of points in the rim 11, preferably three at equidistant portions of the lens 10, so that when under heavy compression by the rim 14, the resilient or rubber blocks 13 will resiliently hold the lens .10 firmly in position by their strong frictional contact, and at the same time absolutely prevent said lens 10 from turning in either direction.

the top block 13 at the exact center of the rim of the casing 16, the lens lO-will thus be mounted correctly in position so that the crosswise prisms or other diffusing means will refract the light on the roadway as de- The modification shown in Fig. 5 is merely a different shaped or round opening 17 and a round resilient plug 18 which is compressible within the hole 17 and performs substantially the sameofiice as the dovetail shaped block 13. The dovetail shaped block 13 is preferredbecause it has a longer grip upon the packing 15 and removable rim 1% and is also not so easily dislodged. It is apparent that in the round opening 17 a coil spring might be used and serve a good purpose in holding the lens 10 against turning. The resilient rubber plug is preferred because of its resilient nature and added frictional holding qualities.

I claim is new:

1. In combination With a vehicle or like lamp, a lens therefor covering the front of the lamp and having a plurality of dovetail shaped openings in the edge thereof,

and resilient dove-tail shaped blocks fitted in and filling said openings and of a thickness to extend outwardly beyond the front and rear faces of the lens and beyond the peripheral edge of the lens when under compression.

2. In combination With a vehicle or like lamp, a lens therefor covering the front of the lamp and having a plurality of openings in the edge thereof and resilient blocks fitted in and filling said openings and of a size to extend outwardly beyond the front and rear faces of the lens and to have their peripheral edge portions disposed beyond the peripheral edge of the lens When under compression.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELVERTON I. HOWARD.

Witnesses C. V. SWANSON, HAROLD Fossnnne. 

